Automatic strip counter



Filed Oct. 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HEA/Pyfil VMO/VD.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1939. H. RAYMOND 2,174,480

AUTOMATIC STRIP COUNTER Filed Oct. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "j um illllQIHIII unhynmw I INVENTOR. O Q ffr/v/Py [Pm Mama.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1939. H. RAYMOND AUTOMATIC STRIP COUNTER Filed Oct.16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1939.

H. RAYMOND AUTOMATIC STRIP. counmzn Filed Oct. 16, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. HEN/Pyle: yM o/vo.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for automaticallycounting articles, such as strips, or the like. After handling articleslike bars, strips and the like, it is desirable to ac- ,5 cumulate themin a magazine prior to shipment or storage in lots of predeterminednumbers. The machine embodying the present invention is peculiarly wellsuited for enabling an operator to readily determine when anypredetermined quantity of articles have been fed to the storage point.In the machine of the present invention, each time a strip, or otherarticle is fed to the magazine or storage pocket, an impulse istransmitted to a counting wheel, which is counteracted by a springtending to turn the wheel to a zero position. This counting wheel isprovided with an indexing means, whereby after a predetermined number ofstrips, or other articles have been accumulated in the magazine, thelatter will be uncovered so as to permit removal of the counted articlesand the counting wheel will be automatically returned to zero position.And when the magazine is thus uncovered a portion of the strip guidingmeans is moved bodily to a non-operaphatically notified that thepredetermined desired number of articles have been counted andaccumulated in the magazine.

A machine embodying the above and further features of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is asection on line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of apart shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail illustrating thestarting position of the parts in fitting strips to the machine; Fig. 8is a view partly in section showing the position which certain partsassume when a desired number of strips or other articles have beenaccumulated in the magazine; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on line9-9 of Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of elements shown inFig. 9; Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views illustrating the operation ofthe number wheel; Fig. 14 is a detail view of indicating means.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the machine includes a base plate Isupporting a base member II formed with a strip-receiving pocket ormagazine I2. The base member Il includes a substantially horizontalstrip guiding portion I3, the rear extremity of which is inclineddowntive position and the operator is, therefore, em-

wardly at I4, the lower end thereof terminating in a foot I secured tothe base plate I0.

Extending forwardly of the magazine, the base member I I has an arm I6,which in its extremity carries a trunnion pin I? forming a pivotalmounting for a swingable frame I3. A spring I9 has coil portions 202i!which encircle the trunnion pin IT and includes a bail portion 2|, whichextends below the swingable frame I8 and arms 22-22, which are securedby screws 23-43 to the arm !6 of the base member. As thus arranged, thesprings 22 tend to swing the frame from the position of Fig. l to thatshown in Fig. 8 about the axis of the trunnion pin H.

A latch 24, as shown in Fig. 4, mounted on a rock shaft 25 journalled inbearing 26 normally tends to hold the swinging frame IS in the stripguiding position of Fig. l and when the swinging frame is in thisposition the magazine I2 is closed at the top, thus preventing thematerial from being removed therefrom by a lifting movement. If desired,means can be provided for preventing the endwise movement of the stripsS from the magazine.

The free end of the latch 24 passes through an opening 2'! formed in thearm Ifi of the frame member and a latch spring 28 surrounding the rockshaft 25 has one end secured to the bracket 26 and has its other endhooked around a trigger pin 29, as shown in Fig. 1. The torsion of thespring 28 normally tends to hold the latch in the closed position, asshown in Fig. 4, and when the trigger 29 is engaged by means hereinafterdescribed the latch will be tripped, thus permitting the spring I9 tothrow the swinging frame I8 to the position of Fig. 8, thus uncoveringthe mouth 3!] of the magazine I2. The strips S to be counted may be fedby a flight conveyor or any other suitable mechanical means, or theycould also be fed manually.

As each strip S is fed between the converging portions I4 and I8 of thebase member and swinging frame, respectively, it will first engage adetent 3i and rock the same from the position of Fig. 1 to the positionshown in Fig. '7 about the pivot 32 thereof against the action of aspring 33. This rocking movement of the detent will move a shoulderedstop portion 34 thereof to a point at which it will clear the spokes 35of a star-wheel mounted on a shaft 36. Continued movement of the strip Sbeing fed will engage the finger 35 of the star-wheel. This continuedmovement will be transmitted through bevel gears 31 and 38 to a shaft 39carrying at its end a pinion 40 meshing with the gear ll carried by thenumber wheel 42.

This number wheel carries a zero position stop pin 3 for engagement witha fixed abutment A4 secured to an arm 45 depending from the swingingframe l 3. The number wheel and gear 4! are mounted to turn together ona spindle 56 fixedly secured to the arm to by nut 57 or other suitablesecuring means. A spiral spring 48, best shown in Figs. 12 and 13, hasone end anchored to the fixed spindle 46 and the other end anchored tothe inner wall of a drum-like casing Mi secured to or forming part ofthe number wheel gear M. The spring is so wound as to normally tend toturn the number wheel and its gear ll in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Figs. 12 and 13. The shaft 39 carries a ratchet wheel 19 withwhich coacts a spring-pressed pawl 50 normally preventing the springfrcm propelling the number wheel in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFigs. 12 and 13. As thus arranged, it is apparent that each time a stripis fed between the guide members l4 and w to the magazine an impulsewill be given to the star-wheel, which in turn will be transmittedthrough the gearing described to the number wheel 42 and thus wind orput the spring 48 under tension.

The peripheral face of the number wheel 42 in some cases, as shown inFig. 14, will have numerals marked thereon and a pointer P secured tothe frame l8 will serve in coaction with the number wheel to indicatethe number of strips in the magazine at any given time.

The gear ii of the number wheel is provided with a multiplicity ofevenly spaced circularly arranged tapped holes 5!, any one of which isadapted to receive a pin 52 for coaction with the trigger 29.

The latch tripping trigger 29, above referred to, is located in the pathof travel of the pin 52. As thus arranged, it is apparent that thecircular distance traveled by the pin 52 before it engages the trigger,and thus trips the latch, will determine the number of strips or otherarticles which can be accumulated in the magazine before the same isuncovered by the swinging frame. Hence, by proper selection of theparticular hole into which the pin 52 is inserted the device can bearranged to open the magazine after the accumulation of anypredetermined number of strips therein, of course within a range coveredby the number of circularly arranged holes 5!.

When the pin 52 strikes the trigger and moves the latch 24 to itsdisengaged position, shown in Fig. 13, the springs Zfi-Zt will move theswinging frame E8 to the position of Fig. 8. During this movement, afixed cam 53 formed on the extremity of the arm l6 will force the lefthand bearing 54 for shaft 39 outwardly against the action of compressionsprings 55, which surround the screws 56 positioning this hearing on theframe it.

This bearing, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 8, has a projecting portion5'5 extending through a slot 58 formed in the frame 53. The right handbearing 59 for shaft is pivotally mounted on a pin 6! carried in frame58, this pivotal mounting for the bearing permitting the angular movement of the shaft 39. The movement of the bearing 54 and shaft 39 by thecam 53 results in unmeshing the pinion to from number wheel gear 4! andthereupon the spring 38 will rotate the number wheel and gear llclockwise, as indicated' by the arrows in Fig. 13, until the pin 63carried by the gear comes to rest against the fixed abutment 4 4, thusrestoring the number wheel to starting or zero position, shown in Fig.12.

Means are provided to prevent the spokes 35 of the star-wheel from beingturned to improper position when the pinion 4c and gear 42 aredisengaged and also to insure that, when the parts are swung from theposition of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 1, said star-wheel spokeswill be in proper starting position, as shown in Fig. 1 for engagementwith further strips to be fed to the magazine. To these ends, I provideon shaft 35 a disc 8! having notches 62 therein for coaction with aplunger $3 urged outwardly by a spring 64 mounted in a shell 65 securedto the extremity of a fixed rod 65 bent to a curvature corresponding toan arc struck from the axis of the trunnion l1, this rod passing freelythrough an opening 6'! formed in the frame I8.

With such an arrangement, it will be apparent that the plunger 63 willbe positioned for yielding engagement with a notch 52 in the disc 6i,when the parts are in the position of Fig. 8, in which the pinion 4i]and gear 4! are disengaged. And in the event that any slight turninmovement should be inadvertently imparted to the shaft 39, said shaftwill be propertly reset to its starting position by camming action ofthe plunger 63 against the face of a notch in the disc 6| when the frameit? is swung downwardly, it being clear that during such swingingmovement the disc 6| will be capable of making a rubbing contact withthe plunger 63 in the event that the disc 6! has become turned one wayor the other from its normal position shown in Fig. 9. Thus, when theswinging frame 18 is returned to the position of Fig. 1, the star-wheelwill have one of its spokes 35 disposed as shown in that figure and,therefore, ready for coaction with sheet S, or other article fed to themagazine.

When the latch 24 is tripped and the springs 20 rock the frame 18 to theposition of Fig. 8, the shock is absorbed as the frame and parts carriedthereby come to rest upon the arm 45 of the frame, striking a cushionspring 61, one end of which is secured by a suitable fastening device 68to the underside of the arm l6 of the base member and the other end ofwhich carries a rubber buffer 69.

While the device illustrated is particularly well suited for countingmetal strips, bars, or the like, it is to be understood that the sametype of machine can be readily adapted for quickly and easily informingan operator when any predetermined number of articles have beenaccumulated in a magazine, whereupon the magazine will be opened, so asto permit the ready removal of such articles.

Various modifications and substitution of equivalents may be made bythose skilled in the art without departure from the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, coacting guide members formaterial to be counted, one of which is fixed and the other of which ismovable, a magazine normally closed by the movable guide member, meansactuated by movement of articles to the magazine for counting sucharticles, and means controlled by the counting means for automaticallyshifting the movable guide member to an open non-guiding position givingfree access to the magazine thus giving an emphatic indication that thesame is in readiness to be emptied after a predetermined number ofarticles have been accumulated there- 2. In a machine of the characterdescribed a magazine to receive articles to be counted, 2. movable guidemember effective in one position to close said magazine and in anotherposition to open it, means actuated by the movement of articles to themagazine for counting such articles, means tending to move said movableguide member to open posi ion, holding means normally effective toprevent the opening movement of said guide member, and means actuated bysaid counting means for releasing said holding means when apredetermined number of articles have been accumulated said magazinewhereby the normal guiding function of said movable guide member isnegatived, thus emphatically indi cating that the magazine is inreadiness to be emptied.

3. In a machine of the character described, a fixed and a movable membercoacting to form guideway along which articles to be counted are moved,yicldable means tending to move the mov able member away from itsguiding relationship with the fixed member, holding means coasting withsaid movable member normally tending to prevent such a wayward movement,mechanism efiective to release said holding means after a predeterminednumber of articles have been is through said guideway said mechanismincluding an element extending into said guideway.

4. In a machine of the character described, a fixed guide member, acoacting guide pivotally supported in juxtaposition thereto, meanstending to swing the latter away from the fixed guide member, a latchnormally restraining the pivoted guide, a star-wheel having spokes forengagement with the articles to be counted, mechanism driven by saidstar-wheel including means for predetermining the number of articles tobe counted, and means actuated by said predetermining means for trippingsaid latch.

5. In a machine of the character described, a fixed guide member, acoacting guide pivotally supported in juxtaposition thereto, meanstending to swing the latter away from the fixed guide member, a latchnormally restraining the pivoted guide, a star-wheel having spokes forengagement with the articles to be counted, a shaft driven thereby andcarrying a pinion, a gear driven by said pinion and having amultiplicity of holes therein, a stop on the gear, an abutment forcoaction therewith and a trip pin in a selected one of said holeseffective to trip said latch after a desired number of articles havebeen fed past said star-wheel, said stop and abutment serving to arrestthe rotation of said gear at a constant starting position.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a magazine foraccumulating articles fed thereto, respective fixed and movable membersjointly forming a guideway leading to the n1agazine, a counter actuatingmember extending into the guideway having a plurality of spokes eacharranged to be actuated by articles fed through the guideway, a shaftdriven by said counteractuating member and carrying a pinion, a numberwheel gear for coaction with the pinion and carrying a zero stop, anabutment for coacticn with said step, spring means urging stop towardsaid abutment, a trip element securabie selectively in differentpositions in said number Wheel gear for predetermining the number ofarticles to be counted, and means coasting with said trip fordisengaging said gear and pinion wheel rotatably supported on themovable memher and having spokes its engagei rent with articles fedbetween said members, a shaft mounted bearings supported by but movablerelatively to said movable guide member, means for transiii mittingmovement from the star-Wheel to said 5 shaft, a ratchet on said shaftcoasting with a pawl permitting the shaft to rotate in one directiononly, a pinion secured to said shaft, a number wheel gear engaged bysaid pinion, spring n eans tending to turn said gear in a direction tothat in which said pinion turns it, costop elements one of which isaffixed to the gear the other of which is afiixed to a rigid support,adapted to arrest the movement oi said gear at a Zero position, a tripelement arranged to be selectively positioned on said gear topredetermine the number of articles to be counted and means located inthe path of said trip element for releasing said latch after apredetermined number of articles have engaged the spokes of saidstar-Wheel.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a fixed guide member,a movable guide member pivotally supported in juxtaposition thereto,means tending to swing the latter aWay from the fixed member, a latchnormally restraining the movable guide member, a starwheel rotatablysupported on the movable memher and having spokes for engagement witharticles fed between said members, a shaft mounted in bearings supportedby but movable relatively to said movable guide member, means fortransmitting movement from the star-Whee1 to said shaft, a ratchet onsaid shaft coacting with a pawl permitting the shaft to rotate in onedirection only, a pinion secured to said shaft, a number wheel gearengaged by said pinion, spring means tending to turn said gear in adirection reverse to that in which said pinion turns it, coacting stopelements, one of which is affixed to the gear and one of which isstationary, adapted to arrest the movement of said gear at a zeroposition, a trip element arranged to be selectively positioned on saidgear to predetermine the number of articles to be counted and meanslocated in the path of said trip element for releasing said latch aftera predetermined number of articles have engaged the spokes of saidstar-wheel, a bracket carrying a yieidable plunger and a member carriedby said shaft for coaction with said plunger adapted to prevent movementof the star-wheel after said pinion has been disengaged from said gearand to insure proper positioning f the star-wheel when the parts arerestored to starting position.

9. A machine of the character described comprising a fixed guide member,a movable guide member pivctally supported in juxtaposition thereto,means tending to swing the latter away from-the fixed member, a latchnormally restraining the movable guide member, a starwheel rotatablysupported on the movable member and having spokes for engagement witharticles fed between said members, a shaft mounted in bearings supportedby but movable relatively to said movable guide member, means fortransmitting movement from the star-wheel to said shaft, a ratchet onsaid shaft coacting with a pawl permitting the shaft to rotate in onedirection only, a pinion secured to said shaft, a number wheel gearengaged by said pinion, spring means tending to turn said gear in adirection reverse to that in which said pinion turns it, coacting stopelements, one of which moves with the gear and the other of which isafiixed to a stationary support adapted to arrest the movement of saidgear at a zero position, a trip element arranged to be selectivelypositioned on said gear to predetermine the number of articles to becounted and means located in the path of said trip element for releasingsaid latch after a predetermined number of articles have engaged thespokes of said star-wheel and a pivotally mounted detent having ashouldered portion yieldingly positioned in the path of the starwheeland arranged to the shifted out of the path. thereof by articles fedbetween said guide members.

10. A machine of the character described com prising a fixed guidemember, a movable guide member supported in juxtaposition thereto sothat the two jointly define a passage through which articles to becounted are fed, yieldable means tending to urge the movable guidemember away from the fixed guide member, a latch normally holding themovable guide member in guiding position, a member carrying a pluralityof spokes arranged to be actuated by articles moved through said guidepassage, a shaft which has a turning impulse transmitted thereto eachtime an article fed through said passage strikes one of said spokes, apinion turning with said shaft, mechanism for predetermining the numberof articles to be counted including a gear normally driven by saidpinion, a stop moving with the gear, spring means urging said gear andstop toward a fixed abutment, a selectively positionable trip elementmoving with the gear, said trip element being effective to automaticallytrip said latch to thus permit said yielding means to shift the movableguide member to non-guiding position, and cam means efiective upon suchmovement of the guide means to disengage the pinion from said gear, thuspermitting the stop thereon to be moved by said spring to zero positionagainst said abutment.

HENRY RAYMOND.

